7 Reminders Whether You Shop or Adopt a Pet This Season
When you’re making a list, check this twice
During the global pandemic, I finally realized I was ready for a pet. My children were potty trained and had been for a while. I work from home and have a good schedule for pet ownership. I could even afford vaccination, food costs, and other related pet expenses. I did some research and found a breed that would work well with the temperament of myself and my children. That was the year we adopted a Welsh Terrier named Sully. Sully Archer McPuppy, to be precise.
It was my first time having a puppy as an adult. Suddenly, I wasn’t just responsible for feeding him and walking him. I had to make sure he was safe, healthy, and loved. Loving him was the easy part. Getting him to stop chewing on anything and everything — well, that was far more difficult.
But it didn’t discourage me. In fact, a few years later, we’d welcome two kittens into our home. This time, we adopted them from my niece. They needed a home, and we had so much more love to give. I have no regrets.
7 Reminders Whether You Adopt or Shop for a Pet
This time of year, people are adding pets to their homes or purchasing them as gifts for special occasions. I’m a big fan of pet ownership, but there are a few things prospective pet owners should keep in mind.
1. Baby Pets Have Many Needs
It might be cute to have a puppy, kitten, or other baby animal, but it’s good to remember that they have needs. Puppies can be left alone forever without using the bathroom. Kittens need to eat what seems like a million times a day. Small baby animals need care, and we have to be prepared to give it to them. We’ll need to make sure they get their vaccinations, have a collar in case they get lost and need to be found again, and even take care of spaying or neutering our pets so that they don’t add to the already overcrowded animal shelters in the world.
2. Baby Pets Grow Up
Puppies and kittens are adorable. They’re little and hilarious. And did I mention irresistibly cute? It’s true. But they grow up. If we shop or adopt, we need to make sure we’re committing to their entire lifespan. It’s not okay to just return them in a few years when we decide that they’re more trouble than they’re worth or no longer fit our lifestyles. They’re going to grow up, and if we aren’t prepared for that, we might want to avoid pet ownership.
3. Pets Are Expensive
Vaccinations, spaying or neutering, food, and boarding costs all add up. It’s an expense that we need to make sure we can afford before bringing home a life that’s going to need our care. We need to make sure that we have the budget to give them the care they deserve. They don’t have to land in the lap of luxury to be loved, but they will need proper nutrition and vaccinations that will help them live healthy lives.
4. Pets Have Short Lives
The lifespan of a pet compared to a human being is woefully short. This is why it’s so important to make sure we’re ready for this commitment. They’ll only live for so long, and we need to be prepared to give them the best possible life while we have them. That cute little gift is going to grow up and still need love, attention, and affection. Pets become a part of our family, and if we can’t see them that way, we’re likely better off not owning them at all.
5. Breeding Pets Isn’t a Hobby
Too often, I hear people talk about breeding cute pets like it’s a hobby. It’s not, though. Some people are practically factory-farming pets, and those animals often have health problems, poor nutrition, and terrible care. I adopted my cats, but I shopped for my dog. I found a breeder who knows what she’s doing and takes this role seriously. I knew my puppy would be healthy and well taken care of until he was old enough to come live in my home. Part of the adoption agreement included spaying or neutering my pet. It’s the responsible thing to do as a pet owner unless we plan on keeping any animals that cannot be adopted by safe, loving owners.
6. Children Need to Be Supervised Around Pets — and Vice Versa
Children and pets are both unpredictable. They need to be supervised at all times. There’s little worse to me than seeing a child pull a cat’s tail or try to ride a dog because the parents think it’s funny. It’s equally awful to see children end up in harm’s way because their parents didn’t think to supervise their pet. We have to teach children how to gently care for and interact with pets, but we also have to make sure that we’re teaching our pets how to behave with our children. All of this — every last lesson — should be taught without physical violence.
7. They’ll Make You Happier and Healthier
Studies have shown that having a pet can reduce stress, improve happiness, and make us feel less lonely. Pet owners even tend to have lower blood pressure. Having a pet can make us feel better. They’re not just great companions. They add so much joy to our lives.
In fact, I spent much of my morning in between tasks watching my cats chase each other around the room. My dog, now 3-years-old, is cuddled up at my side, taking a nap. There’s work that goes into keeping them happy and healthy, and it’s not cheap, but it is incredibly fulfilling to have these lovable pets in my life.
To Be or Not To Be a Pet Owner
There are some alternatives for people who are reluctant to commit to pet ownership but love animals. Most animal shelters and humane societies rely on volunteer staff to help care for their animals and walk their dogs. Instead of adopting, it’s possible to just become a regular volunteer and help these animals find permanent, loving homes.
Another option for those who love animals but don’t want the full-time commitment is to become a dog walker or pet sitter. It’s another way to enjoy animals without taking on a responsibility they may or may not be ready for. Another way is to simply visit a dog park, zoo, or animal rescue to get some animal exposure without the cost or work of animal ownership.
For some of us, we won’t be happy until we’ve got our pets. I didn’t intend to adopt cats when I started out. I thought I’d just have a dog. Later, I considered adopting a second dog. But then, my niece’s cat had kittens, and there were two black kittens in the litter that I suddenly wanted as much as I had wanted my puppy. The timing didn’t seem ideal in some ways. I was struggling. I just knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do. Right now, they’re curled up in their perch in my window napping, and I am so glad they’re mine.
But pet ownership isn’t for everyone. I’m happy to commit to caring for and loving them for the rest of their lives, but I would strongly discourage anyone who can’t make that commitment to avoid getting pets. They aren’t accessories. They become our fur babies, full-fledged members of our families. And if we’re not ready for a larger family and all the work that comes with it, we’re better off satisfying the need for pet snuggles as a volunteer rather than as a pet parent.
